The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-12-21

Anu Wlzcneu Ola Ietef HerklnS pob into
his old overcoat and went home through
the streets where the snow lay thick and
heavy until he reached his comfortable
looking three story house. After he rang
the bell he muttered to himself
II might just rs well have only given
Mark 81 instead Of ST. He'd a'been just
as thankful, and I'd a'saved that much.
And all those things there-why, could
have sold them at discount, but then,
after it all, was losing ground in church
custom by what they call my stinginess,
and now, well, guess after all I'm glad
give them. The poor whoget them can't
complain. Oh here she comes at lasti And
she will expect q present, tool 1t seems
as IL everybody was beset Christmas timel
I'm sick of it. Hai'
At this instant Mrs. Warner, who was
servant and housekeeper both, opened the
door, her rather long face wreathed In
smiles and her form dressed in her best
black silk gown Peter Perkins was as
tonished and surprised as she led the way
to the dining room, where the old mans
dinner was laid, for on the table smoked
a splendid turkey, while several other
dainty and toothsome dishes stood about,
among them q noble mince pie that gave
out mellow, luscious odor that mortal
could not withstand, and yet he turned,
saying fercely:
Mary Warnerl Who gave you author
ity to DO thlsS why, here IS dinner
enough for twenty, ana such extrava-
gancel told you this morning l didn't
believe In holiday nonsense, and told you
to cook half mackerel and potato,
didn't I"'
You did, sir, and was going to do It;
only THIS morning my sister inrthe coun-
try sent me Christmas box, ana these
were In IL, ana as ! couldn't eat them al
myself made bold to offer you half, sir,
and no oifense, hope.
oh, well, that alters the case. Wen,
yes, don't care If do, and he allows
himself to fall In the chair she pushed for
ward, and he fell to and in short time
had eaten most excellent dinner, which
ne finished with great golden doughnut
and piece OF cheese. He took these as in
dream, one In each hand, and made
alternate bites OF doughnut ana cheese In
reflective and even retrospective man
ner as he Thought:
why don't city folks learn to make
crullers like thisY For love nor money
you couldn't buy anything ike TINS IN all
this great city. They taste Just as
mother used TO make them. Her tin
cruller box was never empty and how
good they were; the older they were the
meilower and better they were. l re-
member she used to make me boy and q
mouse every time she fried crullcrs, ana
always two P's for my letters. And
Christmas and New Years she put car
away seed candies all over mine. won
der how she did 1t. That mince pie was
good. think VIII take another piece.
It hain't cost anything and 1t makes me
THINK OF old times.
And SO the miserly old man sat and ate
until his usual bedtime came, when he lit
his candle, for he never would have gas,
and went to bed.
Scarcely had he got warm and comfort
able when he saw standing by his bedside
stranger whose face was carefully
turned away, and who wore long, loose
garment OF some unknown fashion, ana
1nstinctively Peter Perkins put his hand
under his pillow after his revolver, think
ing OF robbers, but the stranger said in u
low voice, which yet had such authority
IN ~ .iia' 'he "feechei nun uareo noV
"isVDey' H.. .,s - ,a,,., >,
iIee' uiess ypui s... anu ioii e1, my
~ ~ d" uieaiii eie l..lo 'i,,seI io'o"eu,
~. .iey Mens ~ s"ii.ly snao no .u"i ~
, ,os ~ ~ "moao sney "eio so'Ds ''n''i Nv
'''s sec sne o..ansei saiu' ~,
vpen soui ese9 eno 'ei' iie "it'' sou
'e1, .,.,.,.. a..
ired taaa no seoo nd de sh 1e WIN NE
wincnc , i',ce paie anu , tiasnseneu st 4,,ae